A Guide to the Best Foot Bath & Spa Machine Reviews of 2017

We all like glowing, healthy skin. Most of us also enjoy pampering ourselves and taking care of our bodies. However, feet often get ignored. Unfortunately, our feet take some of the harshest treatment from the outside world each day. It’s easy to take them for granted. A foot spa machine is a great way to give your feet the attention that they need.

The regular use of an electric foot spa machine is not just about pampering and luxury. According to the Institute for Preventative Foot Health, feet are closely linked to so many other aspects of our lives. Preventative foot health is the practice of taking care of your feet on a regular basis.

The feet can be health indicators for physical problems. Aching feet can be an early sign of fatigue. Taking proper care of our feet also makes sense for everyday living. Strong, healthy feet allow us to lead equally healthy lives without interruption.

What is a Foot Bath & Spa Machine?

It is designed to heal, soothe, and comfort your feet with each use. They offer the technique of soaking the feet in a warm water bath. From there, additional features come into play.

Some foot baths will suggest you add essential oils or Epsom salt, both of which are good treatments for toenail fungus and athlete’s foot. These typically focus on the scrubbing and detoxifying benefits of what a foot spa can do. For many years, the foot bath experience could only be found at expensive salons and luxury spas. Now, you can easily capture the full experience in the comfort of your own home.

Since foot jacuzzis have become so popular as home-use products, you can take advantage of the benefits they provide as often as you’d like.

Why Is It Important to Take Care of Your Feet?

Lifestyle

Simply put, you need healthy feet to be able to enjoy a good quality of life. Healthy feet allow us to be self-sufficient every day, both in work and play. Aching, sore feet can feel debilitating. Something like a heated foot bath can help to alleviate that aching.

Productivity

Whether you have a physically demanding job or a desk job, the health of your feet is important. You have to get up multiple times a day and move around for strong foot health. It can help to prevent neck and shoulder pain and can keep blood from pooling in your feet, causing bigger problems.

Physical Activity

The US government currently recommends that all adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week. With foot problems, it’s a nearly impossible task to complete. A lack of sufficient exercise can lead to multiple health conditions and a poor quality of life.

Far too often, the importance of our foot health is ignored. As you can see, however, it’s important for just about every aspect of our lives. That makes products like foot spas for home use extremely practical.

How Do At-Home Foot Baths Work?

Foot spas are supposed to mimic a salon-style experience. They are pampering, luxurious, and beneficial to your health. While different products have different features, the process is similar for most quality foot spas. Foot jacuzzis are designed to massage and soak your feet gently. This is accomplished through an effervescent bubbling process, rollers, or vibrations. Sometimes, the spas will have additional features, like heat.

Some spas will also feature massage heads that work at the bottom of your feet while they are surrounded in the bath. Foot spas should relax the muscles in your feet completely, from top to bottom.

What’s the Foot Spa Process?

Depending on the specific spa you use, you should follow the manufacturer’s instructions. In many cases, you can simply turn on the machine, add water, and let your feet soak. However, if you’re looking for a full spa experience, there are several steps you can take to encourage foot health and promote relaxation and stress relief.

Gather the ingredients and tools you plan to use. This can include things like the foot spa itself, lotion, a foot scrub, pumice stone, towels, etc.

Thoroughly wash feet before putting them into the spa.

Turn on the spa machine. Give your feet 15-20 minutes to soak in the bath. During this time, you may add essential oils for a therapeutic foot bath. Be sure the foot bath you’re using can handle those ingredients before using them. Items that foam or use suds aren’t recommended.

After you’ve completed the bath, you can use a pumice stone and brush on your feet. Then, rinse them thoroughly. The exfoliation will help to remove dead skin cells from your feet.

Pat your feet dry, and apply lotion to complete the process.

How often you should use the spa is dependent on how your feet feel. Some people go through this process once or twice a week to help with foot and toe cramping, while others enjoy it every other day. Use your judgment in how your feet feel after using the bath to determine how many times a week would be beneficial for you.

Best Foot Spa Machines Reviews for 2017

Kendal MS0809M Bath Massager Review

You’ll enjoy therapeutic versatility in this Kendal MS0809M bath.

It provides heat therapy, oxygen bubble therapy, infrared solutions, and high frequency vibrating for massage purposes. It’s an all-in-one machine that offers a spa experience, as well as the benefits of a foot massage.

These benefits include things like better blood circulation and a boost to your metabolism.Key Features:

It has a sleek and elegant appearance, perfect for any home. With various settings, you can adjust your personal massage to your preferences. Because of its heat-resistant plastic design, you’ll never have to worry about deterioration due to hot water.

This bath by Kendal offers convenience, comfort, and safety in one machine.

Kendal MS0810M Foot Spa Review

It has similarities to the Kendal MS0809M. However, there are a few key differences. The high-frequency vibration not only works your foot muscles but can also benefit the ankles and calves.

It can be used for pampering and relaxation. However, this spa also promotes blood circulation, boosts the metabolism, and relieves fatigue.

Specifically constructed for home use, the design is compact and convenient. It easily fits most foot sizes, up to a men’s size 14. The construction is also made of heat-resistant plastic. This keeps the machine from deformities over time, due to hot water use.Key Features:

Double overheating protection

PC heating semiconductor for quick and even heating

Two active massage rollers for the bottom of the feet

Infrared therapy

Pros:

Heating therapy

Vibrating massage

Promotion of blood circulation

Rounded rollers (not spikes)

Easily emptied without spilling

Cons:

Water can get too hot too quickly

Rollers may be too rough or hard for sensitive feet

With therapeutic properties, you can find complete relaxation and comfort in this spa.

Some people with larger feet may find they need to add less water to the tub. Adding the full amount can sometimes cause overflow. While this bath does allow for the use of Epsom salts and oils, avoid using any product that will foam or cause suds.

HoMedics FB-600 Foot Salon Pro with Heat Review

This foot spa is designed to relax tired, overworked feet.

With gentle vibrations and soothing bubbles, it can help to alleviate tightened, sore muscles. It is strong and powerful enough to work against aching feet. However, it’s gentle enough to be considered a luxury experience.

It even contains a pedicure center. So, after you pamper your feet with a bubbling, heated soak, you can treat yourself to a full salon experience each time.Key Features:

Four included attachments for the pedicure center

Heating boost power

Four pressure-node massage rollers

LED lights to promote additional relaxation

Pros:

Heats up within minutes

Maintains consistent temperature

Comes with pumice stones, foot brush

Accommodates larger foot sizes

Can be used with oils and salts

Cons:

Noisy vibrations

Bubbles can be weak

Rollers are plastic, not rubber

If you’re looking for a foot spa that offers soothing relief for muscles, as well as the salon experience, the HoMedics FB-600 is a great solution. Its design can knead and massage your feet while softening your skin and pampering your toes.

Dr. Scholls DRFB7010B4 Invigorating Foot Spa Review

Dr. Scholls is a trusted brand in protecting your feet.

You may know them from foot and gel inserts, designed to make walking and standing for long periods of time more comfortable. This Invigorating Pedicure Foot Spa applies that same design and desire for comfort.

The extra features, like a massage roller, offer a spa-like experience to home-users.

The one slight drawback comes with the addition of water. Unlike other units on this list, you must add already-hot water to the machine. Once it’s hot, it should stay at the correct warm temperature for as long as the machine is on.

Conair FB5X Foot Bath Review

The FB5X foot bath may look simple. However, it has several key features to make it stand out as one of the best.

The most notable feature is the deep massaging action it provides. This is because of the attachments included for the massaging nodes on the bottom of the unit. You can also enjoy soothing bubbles and consistent heat.Key Features:

Toe touch control

Pedicure attachment

Splashguard

Pros:

Non-slip feet.

Extra nodes for deep massaging.

Cons:

Weak bubbling action.

Some complaints about water temperature cooling quickly.

This machine combines simple design with great extra features.

If you’ve never tried a foot spa before, it’s a great unit to start with for the price. It’s at a much lower price point than some of its competitors. Plus, you can enjoy warm, relaxing water combined with deep massaging action.

What Makes a Good Foot Spa?

Heating

Some baths require you to boil or heat water ahead of time. The better spas on the market will include heat functionality. A heated foot spa will allow you to pour cold or room-temperature water into the unit.

Within minutes, the water should be fully heated to lukewarm. The best baths will maintain that level of consistent, constant heat throughout use. That way, you can enjoy a longer spa-like experience, as the water won’t get cold no matter how long you use the machine.

Features

Spa machines should be more than just foot soakers. Many of these machines will have rollers or nodes on the bottom that provide a full massage to the bottoms of your feet. Additionally, some will use oxygen bubble therapy, and vibration.

Spas that have multiple massage features often allow you to choose different frequency settings. That lets you create a massage that is customized especially for you. Massaging features can take the foot spa experience to a completely different level. It can alleviate aches and pains while pampering tired feet. Be sure to choose a unit that covers the entire foot from the toe to the heel.

Portability

Unfortunately, many spas can become heavy and bulky, especially when filled with water. Some will come with mobile carrying units. Others will include a built-in drainage system. That makes it easy to drain and carry/store with ease quickly. If you’d like to be able to take your machine with you wherever you go, both of these features can make it far more convenient.

The size of the bath should be comfortable enough to hold almost any foot size. Tub capacities should be able to fit a men’s shoe size of 13 or 14. That will allow for the tub to be filled without any overflow. Keep in mind that these spas are designed to bring water up to the ankles. If you cannot submerge your feet that far without water overflowing, the tub is too small. Shallow basins may not work as well.

Easy Operation

If you want to use your machine regularly, it should be easy to operate. Many units are toe-controlled. This allows you to operate the settings with your feet, so you don’t interrupt the spa experience. With this options, you can even change the settings during your soak, without having to get up or reach down.

Different settings and programs are a great operating feature. They can create a more personalized experience. However, if they are difficult to understand, or noisy, it can take away from the feeling of relaxation. The simpler the settings, the better. You’ll likely use the machine far more if it’s not difficult to set up, program, and turn on/off.

Durability & Value

Because these spas are designed for at-home use, durability and value are equally important. You’ll want to choose a unit that is made of quality materials. Durable, temperature and age-resistant plastic are best.

As far as value, consider what you’re getting for the price of each unit. If a spa is a bit more expensive, is it due to the accessories or the quality? The value should be based on how well the spa performs to fit your needs. An expensive spa doesn’t necessarily mean the best, and an inexpensive spa may not be the worst. In short, the price doesn’t necessarily determine the value.

Extra Accessories

It’s always nice to get ‘more’ with a product. However, additional accessories are only good if you will use them. If a unit comes with various attachments, consider which of them you’ll use regularly. Often, these attachments can increase the overall price of the machine. The number of attachments shouldn’t overpower the quality of the machine.

However, if you’re looking for more of a salon experience, the right attachments can be a huge bonus. Some units come with a ‘pedicure center.’ They will typically include things like pumice stones, brushes, and even nail clippers. You can soak and relax your feet, feel fully massaged, and leave your skin pampered after each use.

What are the Benefits of Foot Bath & Spa Machines?

A foot jacuzzi can be an integral part of your overall foot health. It also can help with other health issues and areas of the body. Additionally, foot soakers are a great way to unwind. It’s perfect for pampering and your overall well-being.

Stress reduction: Using a foot bath can help to trigger the solar plexus reflex. This allows your body to manage stress better. Not only is it good for the stress and strain you put on your feet each day, but for your mental relaxation, as well.

Detoxification: Toxins enter into our bodies in multiple ways. Everything from what we eat to various lifestyle choices can impact our bodies negatively. Toxins can cause blockages that prevent our blood from properly circulating. That can additionally prevent oxygen and key nutrients from making their way throughout the blood stream. It can help to eliminate toxins and waste by promoting better blood circulation. The detox process can also help to balance out your body’s pH levels.

Energy: The increased blood flow can also help to increase your overall energy. It is relaxing while you’re using it. But, you may notice an energy boost when performing day-to-day activities.

Depression: Foot baths may also help with cases of depression, according to a study by Michigan State University. The study saw improvements in both men and women who suffered from depression. The subjects took a 30-minute foot bath before bed, and their levels of depression dropped.

Are There Any Safety Concerns?

Avoid using essential oils if have experienced allergic reactions in the past.

If you have any blood circulation disorders or diabetes, you should get approval from your doctor before using a home foot spa machine.

As a precaution, always check the temperature of the water before submerging your feet. The skin of your feet can be extremely sensitive. The temperature of the water should be lukewarm during your soak. Excessive heat can damage the skin.

How Will an At-Home Foot Soaker Help Me?

Foot spas for home use have a long list of benefits. Not only can you enjoy the health benefits discussed above, but they are practical. If you have tired and aching feet, it can sometimes feel impossible to find a solution. If you have health conditions, like poor blood circulation or diabetes, medical treatment options can be costly.

Just interested in using a foot soaker for pampering? At-home units are the right option. Going to a luxury spa or salon can be expensive. Once you invest in a quality foot spa for the home, you’ll never have to worry about those payments again. It is a one-time purchase that’s intended to provide the total spa experience.

From these foot bath & spa machine reviews, the Kendal MS0809M Bath Massager stands out. It is versatile and easy to use. It also allows you to personalize many of its features. That can help in creating the ultimate custom spa experience for your feet.

For relaxation, better health, and relieving stress, any of these spa machines can be a great solution. You may also be interested in reading our guide to the best vibrating foot massagers for reducing stress and improving your blood circulation.